Antoine Griezmann pushes for silverware in Atlético farewell before Orlando switch | OneFootball

Antoine Griezmann has re-emerged as Atlético Madrid’s driving force and is pushing for a last burst of silverware before joining Orlando, after helping seal a Champions League semi-final place.

Supporters hailed the club’s all-time top scorer, 211 goals, after Barcelona were beaten, 2-0 in the first leg then 1-2 on Tuesday. “Je suis en train de kiffer mon jeu”, he told Canal+.

Used as a luxury substitute early in 2025 and back on the bench at the start of this season, he did not lose belief. Over the past two and a half months he has reclaimed a starting place, with one goal and two assists in the Champions League.

Orlando wanted him in March, but he delayed his arrival until season’s end to try to depart with at least one trophy. He has looked a little freer since the announcement of his move.

There are a maximum of 11 matches left. The first chance comes Saturday in the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad at 21:00, a trophy he has only lifted with Barcelona in 2021, while Atlético have not won it since 2013.

Attention then turns to Arsenal in the semi-finals on 29 April and 5 May, with Budapest to host the final and the 2016 shootout loss to Real still lingering. Griezmann finished third in the Ballon d’Or that year and in 2018, and the retired international plans to support France at the World Cup from the stands once based in the United States.

Source: L'Équipe